Anyone have some snow blower knowledge for me?

[LS6 Tommy]

A little belt education.

https://www.beltsforanything.com/faq

I have measured new and worn belts of the same manufacturer and size on a belt measuring tool. Belt wear in terms of the side to side top dimension and cross sectional dimension getting smaller due to wear happens, but it doesn't explain replacing an identical type 50" belt with an identical type 52" belt from the same manufacturer without having to adjust drive pulley to driven pulley distance. Belt stretch is an actual thing.

Tommy

 

[Showkey]

You guys can argue all day on belt stretch theory.

Belts used on snowblowers, tillers and tractors are a much higher grade ( are suppose to higher) than the ACE hardware typical fractional HP belts used in HVAC, fans, or auto accessory belts.
Some of the OEM belts used on low grade power equipment are not up to the task and are the “weak link” in the drive line. Often this is the difference between professional series and poor grade home owner series.